Decisions made: July 2026
Updated 31 August 2026
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regions-group-school-decisions-north-west/decisions-made-july-2026
This is a list of decisions made by the North West region in July 2026.
Greater Manchester
Converter academy orders
Project
Thorn Grove Primary School (106079), Stockport local authority, to convert and become an academy and join The Laurus Trust.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve with conditions.
The trust to update its Articles of Association to remove the requirement for the CFO to be a trustee, and then remove the CFO from the trust board. We also recommend they accept an SRMA deployment.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Irlam Endowed Primary School (105939), Salford local authority, to convert and become an academy and join The Link Education Trust.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve with conditions. Approval is subject to full consent provided by the foundation.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Irk Valley Community School (105452), Manchester local authority, to convert and become an academy and join Greater Manchester Academies Trust.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Significant changes to an open academy
Project
Little Lever School (142296), Lever Academy Trust, Bolton local authority to make the following change: Increasing the physical capacity of a mainstream academy by 31 or more places.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Laurus Ryecroft (145894), The Laurus Trust, Tameside local authority to make the following change: Adding a SEN unit.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Liverpool City Region, Warrington, Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester and Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool and Lancashire and Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness
Converter academy orders
Project
Norman Street Primary School (112219), Cumberland local authority, to convert and become an academy and join Cumbria Education Trust.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Redgate Community Primary School (104885), Sefton local authority, to convert and become an academy and join Lydiate Learning Trust.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Westfield Primary School (111240), Halton local authority, to convert and become an academy and join Wade Deacon Trust.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Trust Changes
Project
The following schools of Changing Lives Learning Trust to transfer and join Cumbria Education Trust:
- Kirby Thore Primary School (150507), Westmorland and Furness local authority
- Settlebeck School (137269), Westmorland and Furness local authority
- St Bees Village Primary School (149818), Cumberland local authority
- Thornhill Primary School (147396), Cumberland local authority
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
West Lakes Academy (135632), Cumberland local authority, Changing Lives Learning Trust to transfer and join Cumbria Education Trust.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
The following schools of Changing Lives Learning Trust to transfer and join Learning for Life Trust:
- Arlecdon Primary School (147395), Cumberland local authority
- Dearham Primary School (137602), Cumberland local authority
- Flimby Primary School (146423), Cumberland local authority
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Establishing a new academy through the free school presumption route
Project
To approve the local authority’s recommendation of the trust of the new primary in Basford East, Crewe, Cheshire East local authority.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Significant changes to an open academy
Project
Hawes Side Academy, (138538), Hawes Side Academy Trust, Blackpool local authority to make the following change: retrospectively adding a temporary SEN Unit for 8 pupils.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Armfield Academy, (145863), Fylde Coast Academy Trust, Blackpool local authority to make the following change: adding a SRP unit for 24 pupils.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Gayton Primary School (149493), Cheshire Academies Trust, Wirral local authority to make the following change: change of age range to include a Nursery.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Oakwood Avenue Primary School, (144241), One Community Trust, Warrington local authority to make the following change: reduction of PAN.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School, (150540), Holy Family Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Warrington local authority to make the following change: reduction of PAN.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Plantation Primary School, (149817), The Rowan Learning Trust, Knowsley local authority to make the following change: reduction of PAN.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
South Wirral High School, (151354), The Challenge Academy Trust, Wirral local authority to make the following change: closure of sixth-form.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Sutton Academy High School, (136141), The Challenge Academy Trust, St Helens local authority to make the following change: closure of sixth-form.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Blessed Carlo Acutis, (149032), St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Halton local authority to make the following change: opening of an SEN unit.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
Ormskirk School, (148254), Endeavour Learning Trust, Lancashire local authority to make the following change: closure of sixth-form
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
Project
St Michael with St Thomas CE Primary School, (147262), The Three Saints Academy Trust, Halton local authority to make the following change: opening of an SEN unit.
Representations received
No representations were made for this project.
Decision
Approve. Project can move to the next stage.
Further actions required
Feed back decision to the school or trust.
List of projects listed on the published decisions to be taken, but were removed before a decision was taken
Trust Change
Project
An application for Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, (136732), Westmorland and Furness local authority, to transfer from Changing Lives Learning Trust and join Cumbria Education Trust.
Reason for removal
No application considered.